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Geneva  Brick  Products  Co.,  Inc. 


~ ~ FORE  W O R D - 


THE  Cinder  Concrete  Building  Unit  is  manufactured  under  the 
well-known  Straub  and  Bo  patent  requirements.  It  is  a com- 
position of  Portland  Cement  and  carefully  selected  or  specially 
purified  cinders,  crushed  to  the  proper  fineness.  These  materials 
— thoroughly  mixed  and  molded  under  heavy  pressure — are  manu- 
factured into  building  units  of  the  standard  shapes  and  sizes 
required  by  modern  building  practice. 

Since  the  issue  of  the  Straub  patent  over  80  plants  devoted  to  the 
manufacture  of  these  products  have  been  established  in  the  United 
States  and  Canada.  Continued  study  of  the  quality  factors  of  the 
material  — careful  control  — and  quantity  production  have  made  it 
possible  to  offer  Cinder  Concrete  Building  Units  to  the  Building 
Trade  at  a cost  which  successfully  competes  with  that  of  any  other 
masonry  material. 


Cinder  Concrete  Building  Units,  in  the  form  of  block,  brick  or 
tile,  are  identified  with  the  names  of  Straub  and  Bo,  and  as  such 
have  been  recognized  as  standard  masonry  in  practically  all  of  the 
largest  cities.  The  combination  of  these  two  patents  makes  it  possible 
for  the  authorized  plants  to  adopt  the  method  most  suitable  for  the 
raw  material  and  to  produce  a uniform  product  throughout  the  country. 

The  product  and  service  of  this  Company,  backed  by  the  experience 
and  prestige  of  a National  Industry,  are  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the 
Building  Trade. 

Geneva  Brick  Products  Co.,  Inc. 


GENESEE  BRICK  & SUPPLY  CORPORATION 

Bo  Process  Cinder  Brick  and  Blocks 
832  ST.  PAUL  STREET  ROCHESTER,  N.  Y. 

Geneva  Brick  Products  Co.,  Inc. 


^ CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS  ^ ~ 

HI 


~ ~ THE  W ALL  ~ ~ 


WALLS  have  two  functions  — to  support  and  to  protect. 
Almost  any  masonry  material  that  goes  into  wall  construction 
has  sufficient  strength  for  load-bearing.  Cinder  Block  and  Cinder 
Tile— with  a high  crushing  strength  of  the  individual  unit  and  an 
unusually  high  degree  of  wall  efficiency — give  a safety  factor  far  in 
excess  of  the  requirements  for  general  construction. 

But  strength  is  only  one  factor  in  modern  wall  design;  a vital  factor, 
but  not  at  all  a remarkable  one.  The  Perfect  Wall  must  possess 
other  advantages. 

The  Perfect  Wall  must  be  permanent.  It  must  be  immune  to  the 
common  causes  of  deterioration  in  building  materials,  such  as  wind 
and  rain  or  freezing  and  thawing.  It  must  be  fire  resistant — not 
merely  incombustible,  but  retaining  its  strength  and  stability  when 
exposed  to  intense  heat  or  to  the  sudden  and  repeated  application  of 
cold  water. 


Under  the  most  severe  exposure  the  wall  must  insure  comfort  through 
its  insulative  character  and  its  resistance  to  dampness.  In  our  North 
American  climate,  changing  from  month  to  month,  sometimes  from 
day  to  day,  there  is  real  necessity  for  buildings  that  will  retain  an 
even  temperature,  free  from  outside  changes.  This  is  one  of  the 
requirements  of  the  Perfect  Wall. 

Modern  conditions  demand  that  the  wall  provide  privacy  through 
protection  against  outside  noises.  Sound  insulation  has  therefore 
become  a matter  of  the  greatest  importance  in  building  design — 
particularly  when  considering  partitions  in  apartments, office  buildings, 
schools  or  hospitals 

And  — in  order  to  be  practicable  for  extensive  construction,  the 
Wall  must  not  be  prohibitive  in  cost. 

Cinder  Concrete  Building  Units  embody  the  requirements  of  the 
Perfect  Wall.  In  these  units,  structural  strength  is  combined  with 
a cellular  insulative  structure.  While  light  of  weight,  they  meet  the 
specifications  for  load-bearing  walls.  Fire-resistant  and  time-proof, 
they  have  the  added  advantage  of  sound  absorption  as  part  of  the 
wall  itself.  And  these  features  are  obtained  at  a cost  which  com- 
pares favorably  with  that  of  any  other  masonry  unit. 


— ^ CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS  ^ 

hi 


PRODUCTS 


ON  this  page  are  illustrated  some  of  the  popular  sizes  of  Cinder 
Block  and  Cinder  Tile.  Generally,  the  units  cover  a wall  area 
of  8"xl6",  and  have  a standard  thickness  of  3,4,6,8,10  and  12  inches. 
Reinforced  lintels  are  made  of  the  required  dimensions  and  in  a wide 
range  of  lengths. 

Brick,  half  block,  quarter  block,  jamb  block,  sash  block,  header  block, 
corner  block  and  solid  slabs  are  furnished  for  use  in  connection  with 
standard  units.  They  are  of  great  importance  in  simplifying  erection 

General  data  regarding  these  units  will  be  found  on  pages  24  and  25 
Reference  is  made  to  the  price  list  of  the  plant  for  information  on 
all  sizes  carried  in  stock. 


— — CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS 

5 3 1 


- - OUTSTANDING  FEATURES  ~ 


THE  characteristics  of  Cinder  Concrete  Building  Units, as  described 
in  this  book,  may  be  summarized  in  the  following  few  paragraphs: 

1 — Light  IV  eight 

Easy  to  handle,  being  40-50%  lighter  than  brick  or  sand  concrete  blocks.  This  speeds  up 
the  laying  and  reduces  the  dead  weight  of  the  wall.  An  ideal  material  for  curtain  walls  and 
partitions  in  tall  buildings  where  lightness  is  a necessity. 

2 — Strength 

The  unit  meets  the  requirement  of  the  building  code  and  possesses  high  structural  efficiency. 
The  strength  of  the  unit  is  imparted  to  the  wall  itself  through  the  full  development  of  the 
mortar  bond.  The  toughness  of  the  material  eliminates  waste  due  to  breakage. 

3 — Fire  Resistance 

Unique  fire  resistance  established  by  hundreds  of  tests  and  actual  fires.  The  structural  stability 
of  the  wall  is  unimpaired  by  prolonged  exposure  to  heat  or  by  the  sudden  cooling  when  water 
is  applied.  Salvage  value  practically  100%. 

4 — Time-Proof 

Strength  increases  with  age.  Changes  in  temperature  or  in  the  humidity  of  the  atmosphere 
do  not  affect  the  material,  and  repeated  freezings  and  thawings  do  not  reduce  its  strength. 
Used  extensivelv  in  foundation  walls  exposed  to  the  dampness  of  the  soil. 

5 — Insulation 

The  cork-like  structure  of  the  material  builds  insulation  into  the  wall.  It  insures  an  even 
temperature  within  the  house  all  year  'round  and  effects  a substantial  saving  in  fuel.  The 
insulative  nature  makes  lining  with  special  insulating  materials  unnecessary. 

6 — Damp-Proof 

The  insulative  character  prevents  condensation  on  the  wall  and  the  limited  capillary  attraction 
eliminates  the  danger  of  moisture  being  drawn  through  the  wall  from  the  outside.  Furring 
strips  and  lathing  are  unnecessary.  Buildings  are  always  dry  and  conducive  to  good  health. 

7 — Sound -Insulation 

Walls  of  this  material  absorb  sound.  The  acoustics  of  large  rooms  are  substantially  improved 
by  the  reduction  of  sound  reverberation.  Cinder  tile  partitions  insure  privacy  by  practically 
eliminating  transmission  of  sound. 

8 — Nailing  and  Cutting 

Nails  can  be  easily  driven  into  the  wall,  will  grip  firmly  and  will  never  rust.  Nailing  strips 
and  plugs  are  eliminated  and  all  grounds  or  trim  may  be  fastened  direct.  The  units  can  be 
cut  or  channeled  without  breakage  or  waste. 

9 — Plastering  Surface 

Trueness  of  wall,  rough  surface  and  even  suction  facilitate  plastering  and  reduce  waste  to 
a minimum.  The  adhesion  is  permanent  and  there  is  no  danger  of  staining  or  cracking. 

10 — Economical 

The  utmost  in  building  permanence  with  economy.  For  a discussion  of  economy  of  con- 
struction, see  page  18. 


^ — CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS  — — 


1 4 1 


G E N E R A L U S E 

THE  entire  field  of  masonry  construction  is 
covered  by  Cinder  Concrete  Building 
Units.  Suitable  sizes  are  standardized  for  use 
in  load-bearing  walls,  above  or  below  grade, 
in  curtain  walls,  in  partitions  and  in  all  types 
of  permanent  construction.  These  units  may 
be  used  either  exposed  or  as  backing  for  brick, 
stone  or  stucco. 


Residence , Detroit , Mich.  Cinder  Block  used  for  basement  and  all  exterior  walls. 
Plastered  and  stuccoed  direct. 


Security  Building,  Denver,  Colo.  Fisher  & Fisher,  Architects.  Alex  Simpson, 
Jr.,  Company,  Contractors.  Cinder  Tile  partitions  throughout. 


By  insuring  dryness,  Cinder  Block  foundations  add  another  livable  floor  to  the  house. 


Residence  construction,  in  which  these  units 
were  first  employed,  gave  unmistakable  evi- 
dences of  the  almost  infinite  adaptability  of 
the  material  and  the  economies  in  construc- 
tion made  possible  by  its  use.  Architects  and 
Builders,  appreciating  these  advantages  and 
possibilities,  soon  specified  Cinder  Con- 
crete Building  Units  in  all  types  of 
buildings. 

The  use  of  Cinder  Block  in  foundations 
became  general.  The  practical  addition  of  a 
new  floor  to  the  house  because  of  the  dryness 
of  this  type  of  basement  wall  was  a feature 
that  appealed  strongly  to  owners  everywhere, 
adding  to  the  impression  already  created  by 
the  insulative  features  and  by  the  permanence 
of  the  material. 

The  larger  types  of  modern  construction  re- 
quiring height  have  brought  the  factors  of 
strength  and  lightness  into  prominence. 
Cinder  Concrete  Building  Units 
have  found  wide-spread  use  in  walls  up  to 
fifty  feet  in  height,  as  load  bearing  units. 
The  reduction  of  dead  weight,  increased 
stability  and  high  wall  efficiency  are  the 
important  factors  in  these  forms  of  construc- 
tion. 

An  important  field  has  been  opened  for  Cinder 
Concrete  through  the  development  of  Parti- 
tion Units  and  Backing  Tile  that  meet  every 
requirement  of  modern  skyscraper  construc- 
tion. The  lightness  and  economy  of  Cinder 
Concrete  Building  Units  are  here  equaled 
in  importance  by  the  unique  sound  insula- 
tion possessed  by  this  material. 


^ ^ CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS  - - 

{ 5 1 


LIGHT  OF  WEIGHT 


C.tan  Court  Apt.,  Ocean  City,  S.  J . Cander  Blacks 
in  load-bear  mg  walls  ready  for  stucco. 


Rochester  Gas  & Electric  Corporation , Heating 
Plant,  Rcchestir,  N ■ Y.  Wall  SO'  (l20  courses) 
high,  built  of  h"  and  12 " Cinder  Block.  Brick 
Venter  in  front . Other  side  ef  Cinder  block, 
unstuccced  Since  Spring,  192). 


ASTANDARD  8x8x16"  Cinder  Block  weighs  32.  to  34  lbs.  as 
L compared  to  approximately  50  lbs.  for  a sand  concrete  block. 
It  equals  in  the  wall  12.  brick,  weighing  close  to  60  lbs. 

Lighter  Cinder  Concrete  Units  are  made  for  non-bearing  partitions 
and  curtain  walls. 

100  square  feet  of  8 " wall  will  require  the 
following  weights  of  units: 

3600  lbs.  of  cinder  blocks. 

3300  lbs.  of  sand  concrete  blocks,  or  30%  more. 

6300  lbs.  of  clay  brick,  or  80'f°  more. 

It  is  apparent  that  there  must  be  a con- 
siderable difference  in  the  speed  of  hand- 
ling these  different  weights,  and  it  is 
quite  possible  to  figure  this  variation  under  given  conditions  and  labor  costs. 

1 he  lightness  of  Cinder  Concrete  Building  Units  reduces  the  dead  weight  of  the 
wall.  Ihis  is  of  particular  advantage  in  the  construction  of  curtain  walls  and  partitions, 
effecting  marked  economy  in  erection.  The  weight  on  the  footing  is  reduced,  and 
with  Cinder  Block  and  Tile  there  is  less  danger  of  cracks  due  to  settling. 

For  a two-story  residence  built  of  8"  Cinder  Blocks  above  grade  and  1 2"  Cinder  Blocks 
below,  the  safety  factor  will  be  in  excess 
of  40,  assuming  normal  loads  on  floors 
and  roof.  For  a four-story  apartment  50 
ft.  in  height,  the  safety  factor  will  still  be 
considerably  in  excess  of  10,  due  to  the 
lightness  and  strength  of  Cinder 
Concrete  Building  Units. 


Weight 

eee  Cub/ct  Foo  r : 

54  POUNDS 

HOL  LON  C/NDE  P UN/T 

54  POUNDS 

HOLLOIN  CLAY  TILE 

GO  POUND  5 

SOLID  ONDEP  UNIT 

G4  5 POUND 5 

HOL  LOIN  OO  NO  PE  TE  UNIT 

/2  5 POUNDS, 

OLAY  P>P  !C  K. 

/36  POUND  5 

SOLID  CONCRETE 

' 


— CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS  ^ - 


16! 


TRENGTH 


Cinder  Concrete  Building  Units  meet  the  requirements  of  the 
most  rigid  building  codes.  These  units  are  subjected  to  tests  at 
regular  intervals  and  the  manufacturing  license  requires  a strength, 
at  the  age  of  l8  days,  of  not  less  than  700  lbs.  per  square  inch 
of  gross  area,  or  whatever  strength  is  required  by  the  building  code. 

Generally,  this  requirement  is  greatly  ex- 
ceeded and  hollow  Cinder  Blocks  have  been 
made  to  stand  a pressure  of  more  than  one 
ton  per  square  inch.  This  strength,  how- 
ever, is  never  required  in  masonry  unit 
construction. 

The  strength  of  the  masonry  unit  should 
always  be  considered  in  its  relation  to  the 
strength  of  the  wall.  The  essential  factors  in 
imparting  this  unit  strength  to  the  wall  itself  are  the  quality  of  the  mortar  and  its 
adhesion  to  the  unit. 

With  Cinder  Block  the  mortar  bond  develops  its  full  strength.  The  limited  suction 
of  the  unit  prevents  drying  out,  and  the  wide  mortar  bed  has  a rough -textured 
surface  which  gives  a perfect  key. 

A large  number  of  tests  on  Clay  Brick  walls,  as  reported  by  the  Hoover  Building 
Code  Committee,  show  an  average  wall  efficiency  (ratio  of  wall  strength  to  unit 
strength)  of  25 %,  while  tests  made  by  Columbia  University  on  Cinder  Block 
piers,  as  quoted  on  this  page,  show  an  average  wall  efficiency  ot  66.8 °/o. 


Wall  Efficiency 

/EFT/O  OF  STRENGTH  OF  PVNLL.- 
TO  ST/?EfJ<5TH  OF  UNIT 

CINDE/E  E>LOC bC  ■ 66. & % 

CLOY  S>mCK.  : 25  % 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY 
DEPARTMENT  OF  CIVIL  ENGINEERING 
New  York  City,  December  20th,  1923.  Report  No.  1353 


Abstract  oj  Report  on  Compression  Tests  on  Cinder  Block  Piers 


Height  of  Pier 

Size  Unit 

Compressive  Strength  of  Pier 

Compressive  Strength  of  Unit 

Rnlio 

54.1" 

8 x 8 x 16" 

704  lbs.  per  sq.  inch 

927  lbs.  per  sq.  inch 

.758 

53.8" 

8 x 8 x 16" 

649  lbs.  per  sq.  inch 

927  lbs.  per  sq.  inch 

.700 

54.0" 

8 x 12  x 16" 

719  lbs.  per  sq.  inch 

1315  lbs.  per  sq.  inch 

.547 

Whin  basti  is  imperative,  dumping  direct  from  the 
trucks  may  be  employed  uitb  safety. 


The  toughness  of  cinder  concrete 
should  also  be  considered  here.  This 
characteristic  eliminates  waste  due  to 
breakage,  for  the  units  may  be  dump- 
ed from  trucks  without  damage  ex- 
cept for  the  possibility  of  a few  broken 
corners. 


— - CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS 

I 7 ] 


FIRE  RESISTANCE 


NO  single  feature  of  Cinder  Concrete  Building  Units  has  been 
more  completely  established  than  their  unusual  hre  resistance. 

The  term  “fire-resistant”  embraces  several  factors  almost  equally 


important.  Resistance  to  flame  is 
sion,  and  the  cohesive  character 
cracks,  are  equally  essential.  After 

■ 


Ruins  of  Buffalo  factory  of  Teachout  Lumber  Co. , January  192}.  Cinder  Brick  chimney 
undamaged  by  fire.  Note  effect  of  intense  btjt  on  steel  beams. 


vital.  Prevention  of  heat  transmis- 
of  a wall  that  neither  bulges  nor 
the  hre,  the  salvage  value  of  the 
wall  assumes  primary  interest. 

Cinder  concrete,  made  by  the 
proper  method,  offers  not  only  a 
high  degree,  but  also  the  most 
inclusive  form  of  hre  resistance, 
and  its  remarkable  salvage  value 
is  a factor  on  which  great  stress 
should  be  placed 

Tests  of  every  kind,  and  practical 
experience  in  many  actual  hres  have 
established  the  hre  resistance  of 


cinder  concrete.  This  material,  while  intensely  hot  on  its  exposed 
surface,  will  withstand  sudden  and  repeated  application  of  cold  water 
without  cracking  or  weakening  of  the  wall. 


Tests  made  by  the  Laboratories 
of  the  National  Board  of  Fire 
Underwriters  clearly  illustrate 
these  well-established  facts. 


(ABOVE).  “Many  blocks  in  the  exposed  ualls  uere  tested  with  blows  from 
a hammer  and  they  rant,  as  clearly  as  new  blocks  when  struck.  It  should  not 
be  necessary  to  replace  any  blocks  either  for  safety  or  because  of  their  appearance. 
Excerpt  from  letter  from  Rudolph  P Miller , Consulting  Engineer,  New  York, 
written  after  examination  of  buildings  exposed  to  fire  at  Tenafly,  N. /. 


CLEFT).  Hollow  }-tnch  Cinder  Block  wall,  exposed  to  full  force  of  three  and 
one-half  hour  fire  at  Tenafly,  N . J. 


I 


I 

I 


— -CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS  ^ ^ 

f 8 ] 


FIRE  RESISTANCE 


At  the  Underwriters’  Laboratories,  Cinder  Block  walls  were  sub- 
mitted to  lire  test,  tire  and  water  test,  and  the  so-called  “impact  test", 
where  the  wall  is  subjected  twice  to  the  impact  of  a heavy  steel  and 
concrete  member  following  the  exposure  to  fire  and  water. 


In  these  fire  tests,  8"  Cinder  Block  panels 
10'-1"  wide  and  11' -3  "high,  formed  the 
front  wall  of  a gas  furnace.  The  temperature 
of  this  furnace  reached  1300°  F.  in  10  minutes 
and  more  than  1900°  F.  in  3 hours  15  minutes 
when  the  unexposed  faceoftheCiNDERBLocKs 
registered  an  average  of  300°  F.  The  blocks 
showed  no  spalling,  cracking  or  structural 
damage,  and  the  maximum  deflection  of  the 
wall,  due  to  heat  expansion,  was  less  than  V2 

In  the  remarkable  fire  at  Tenafly,  N.  J.,  a hol- 
low 5-inch  wall  of  Cinder  Blocks  resisted  a 
wind-driven  fire  that  endured  for  three  and 


one-half  hours.  This  is  an  instance  of  all  the  qualities  included  in 
the  term  “fire-resistant”.  An  average  of  500  gallons  of  water  a minute 


was  directed  against  the  heated  wall 
dition  of  contraction  and  expansion. 


surface,  creating  an  unusual  con- 
After  the  fire  there  were  no  evi- 
dences whatever  of  heat  pene- 
tration. The  wall,  three  stories 
in  height,  was  undeflected  and 
uncracked.  Every  cinder  block 
was  fit  for  use  ag;ain. 

O 


(ABOVE).  3"  Cinder  Tile  used  in  fire-proofing  all  steel  members  of  Ararat 
Shrine  Temple,  Kansas  City.  See  pace  21.  illustrating  general 
construction  of  Proscenium  u all  and  back-stage  u alls. 


(RIGHT).  8"  Cinder  Block  used  in  construction  of  modern  fire-proof  t auit. 


^ ^ C I N D E R CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS  ^ ^ 

f 9 1 


TIME-PROOF 


A BUILDING  material  may  deteriorate  with  age  mainly  because 
of  expansion  of  the  water  contained  in  its  pores  when  this 
water  freezes.  An  increase  in  volume  of  approximately  10%  takes 
place  when  water  is  changed  into  ice.  If  the  building  material,  or  a 
portion  of  it,  is  completely  saturated,  serious  cracking  may  occur. 

This  will  never  happen  with  Cinder 
Concrete  Building  Units  because  of 
the  cellular  structure  of  the  cinders.  The 
pores  of  the  aggregate  will  always  con- 
tain a certain  amount  of  air,  and  if  the 
water  in  the  wall  freezes,  the  air  pockets 
allow  for  expansion  so  that  no  stresses 
occur  which  break  the  bond  of  cement 
holding  the  particles  together. 

Numerous  laboratory  tests  show  that 
Cinder  Block  and  Cinder  Tile  actually 
gain  in  strength  by  repeated  freezing  and 
thawing.  The  gain  must  be  due  to  a 
further  hydration  of  the  cement,  and  the  real  significance  of  these 
tests  lies  in  the  fact  that  no  loss  in  strength  results. 


Freezing  and  thawing  testsare  usually  conducted  by  submerging  the  speci- 
men in  water,  freezing  it,  then  thawing  it  in  hot  water.  These  alternate 


Camp  Brady,  Michigan.  This  Boy  Scour  Camp  it  built  entirely  of  Cinder  Block,  left 
exposed  for  architectural  effect  and  economy . 


freezings  and  thawings  are  repeated 
a definite  number  of  times,  usually 
twenty.  The  strength  is  deter- 
mined before  and  after  the  treat- 
ment. Cinder  ConcreteBuilding 
Units  have  been  subjected  to  as 
many  as  forty-two  freezings  with- 
out any  loss  in  strength. 

Other  causes  of  deterioration  in 
building  materials  may  be  the 


— ^ CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS  ^ ^ 

I 10  ] 


TIME-PROOF 


effect  of  wind  and  rain  or  chemical 
course  of  time. 

Cinder  Concrete  Building 
Units  increase  in  strength  with 
age,  as  shown  by  tests  on  blocks 
taken  from  the  walls  of  old  build- 
ings. An  extensive  investigation 
conducted  by  the  Pittsburgh 
Testing  Laboratory  is  summed  up 
in  the  following  conclusion: 

“As  a result  of  our  investigation,  and  finding  that 
Straub  Cinder  Concrete  Blocks  have  been  used  for 
a period  of  upwards  of  nine  years,  with  absolutely 
no  evidence  of  disintegration  or  deterioration,  there 
can  be  no  question  as  to  the  durability  of  such 
blocks."  Report  dated  November  2,  1925. 


processes  which  may  appear  in  the 


8"  Cinder  Block  used  in  Manhole  construction  by  Rochester  Gas  & Electric  Corp., 
Rochester,  N.  Y .,  at  marked  economy  over  similar  construction  with  brick 


FREEZING  AND  THAWING  TEST  MADE  UPON  CINDER  CONCRETE  TILE 

The  tile  used  in  this  test  were  taken  from  a lot  selected  and  marked  by  the  Bureau  of  Building, 
City  of  New  York,  represented  by  Mr.  T.  Heatley,  Borough  of  Bronx. 

The  specimens  were  dried  to  constant  weight  and  immersed  in  water  four  hours,  after  which  they  were  placed  in  a 
refrigerator  maintained  at  a temperature  of  6°  F and  allowed  to  remain  for  23  hours.  They  were  then  removed  and 
placed  for  one  hour  in  water  having  a temperature  of  150°  F.  At  the  end  of  this  thawing  period,  the  specimens  were 
again  placed  in  the  refrigerator  and  frozen  as  above  and  again  thawed,  thus  causing  the  tile  to  be  alternately  frozen  and 
thawed  once  every  twenty-four  hours.  The  test  consisted  of  twenty  such  alternate  freezings  and  thawings  At  the  end  of 
this  freezing  test,  the  specimens  were  again  dried  to  constant  weight  and  the  compressive  strength  determined. 


Test  Number 28351  28549 

Size  of  Unit 8x8x16  8x12x16 

Average  strength  after  freezing,  pounds  per  square  inch  gross  area 1,123  1,529 

Average  strength  before  freezing,  pounds  per  square  inch  gross  area* 91  5 1,152 


Gain  in  strength 22.7%  32.6% 


Note:  *These  values  were  obtained  from  average  test  made  on  tile,  taken  from  the  same  lot  and  covered  by  tests, 
numbers  27517-19  and  27524-26,  dated  September  2,  1924. 


During  the  careful  mixing  processes  employed  under  the  Straub  and 


Bo  Systems,  the  particles  of  cinders  a 
alkaline  cement.  If  any  acid  had 


re  completely  coated  with  strongly 
formed  by  oxidation  of  sulphur 
compounds,  it  would  be  neutral- 
ized instantly. 

As  a matter  of  fact,  nails  embedded 
in  Cinder  Block  and  Cinder  Tile 
have  a holding  power  that  in- 
creases with  age.  They  show  no 
sisn  whatever  of  rusting;. 

O O 


^ — CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS  ^ 


1 1 


INSULATION 


f |J  *HE  cellular,  cork-like  structure  of  the  Cinder  Concrete  Building 
Unit  creates  an  insulation  that  forms  an  integral  part  of  the 
load-bearing  wall. 


This  cellular  structure  is  developed  by  the  methods  of  crushing  and 

grading  employed  in  the  Straub  and 
Bo  processes.  The  large  hollow  spaces 
in  the  block  and  tile  are  for  the  purpose 
of  lightening  the  product;  it  is  the 
small  air  cells,  structurally  strong  and 
containing  dead  air,  that  give  the  unit 
its  distinguishing  insulative  character. 

The  Coefficient  of  Heat  Conductivity 
for  a typical  8 x 8 x 16"  Cinder  Block  as 
determined  by  E.  L.  Conwell  & Co., 
Philadelphia, Pa.,  is  1.77.  This  means  that 
1.77  British  Thermal  Units  will  flow  per 
hour  through  one  square  foot  of  the  block 
when  the  difference  in  temperature 
is  1 degree  Fahrenheit  per  1 inch  thickness.  Compare  this  with  the 
coefficient  for  other  materials  as  quoted  in  standard  text  books. 


United  StaltJ  Gciernment  Lighthouse , Miluaukee,  Wisconsin. 
Cinder  Blocks  in  outside  ualls  for  insulation,  and 
Cinder  Tile  in  all  partmcns. 


The  benefits  gained  by  the  insulative  character  of  Cinder  Concrete 


Building  Units  may  be  sum- 
marized as  follows:  — 

First,  A Saving  in  Fuel.  The 
heat  loss  through  the  wall  is 
substantially  reduced  because  of 
the  insulation  of  the  wall  itself. 

Second,  Elimination  of  Damp- 
ness. Changes  in  outside  tern- 
perature  are  slow  in  affecting  a 


Magnified  cross  section  of  Cinder  Block,  shoutne,  cellular  structure,  which  produces 
high  decree  cf  insulation.  Note  minute  air-cells  in  particles  of  aggregate. 


^ ^ CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS 


i 12  J 


INSULATION 


wall  of  this  material,  and  there  is  no  danger  of  condensation  of  the 
moisture  contained  in  the  air  of  the  heated  interior. 

Third,  Economy  of  Construction.  The  insulation  as  an  integral  part 


of  the  wall  itself  makes  lining 

O 


Residence  at  Rochester,  N.  Y . Leander  McCord,  Architect.  Cinder  Blocks , 
u itb  stucco  and  plaster  applied  direct,  produce  high  degree  of  insulation. 


with  special  insulative  materials 
unnecessary  All  necessity  for 
furring  and  lathing  is  eliminated. 

Fourth,  Increased  Comfort.  The 
maintenance  of  even  temperature 
all  year  round,  and  the  absence  of 
dampness,  are  important  factors 
when  considering  the  comfort  of 
any  building. 


Extensive  use  for  Cinder  Block  and  Cinder  Tile  has  been  found  in 
ice  houses  and  refrigerators  where  a low  temperature  must  be  main- 
tained, and  in  dry  kilns,  cold  storage  houses,  etc.  These  special  uses  empha- 
size the  commercial  and  economic  possibilities  inherent  in  this  material. 


THE  MIDWEST  ORCHARD  SERVICE  WRITES: 

The  success  we  have  had  in  the  operation  of  our  Air-Cooled  Storage  prompts  us  to  write  you 
in  regard  to  the  insulating  efficiency  of  your  cinder-cement  block. 

During  the  past  winter  season,  a temperature  of  34  degrees  was  maintained  for  over  four  months, 
with  but  slight  variation,  and  our  ventilating  system  controlled  both  humidity  and  temperature 
so  well  that  the  apples  were  kept  in  a firm  sound  condition.  No  apple  scald  or  shriveling  was 
apparent  on  any  varieties. 

The  writer  has  inspected  many  similar  storages  constructed  of  hollow  tile,  concrete,  brick  and 
so  forth,  but  in  no  case  have  they  proven  as  efficient  as  our  own  structure  built  of  the  cinder- 
cement  block.  A great  many  growers  from  the  Middle  West  have  already  visited  our  plant. 
Everyone  has  been  most  favorably  impressed  and  many  have  ordered  plans,  intending  to  build 
similar  structures. 


Ice  house  at  Pueblo,  Colo.,  built  of 
12"  Cinder  Blocks,  exposed  or.  outside 
and  lined  uitb  of  insulating 

rnater/al  and  one  later  of  ship  lap, 
nailed  direct  to  the  u all.  More  than 
40,000  units  used  in  this  operation. 


^ ^ CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS  — ^ 


DAMP-PROOF 


THERE  are  two  causes  for  the  dampness  or  sweating  that  appears 
on  the  interior  of  some  walls.  The  first  is  condensation  of  moisture 
on  a cooling  wall.  The  second  is  the  capillary  action  that  draws 
moisture  through  the  wall  from  the  outside. 

Dampness  collecting  on  the  outside  of  a pitcher  of  ice  water  in  a 
heated  room  is  an  ordinary  example  of  the  first  phenomenon.  The 

second  is  illustrated  by  dipping 
the  end  of  a lump  of  sugar  in 
coffee,  when  the  liquid  is  drawn 
up  through  the  sugar  by  capil- 
lary attraction. 

As  stated  on  the  foregoing  page, 
condensation  may  be  eliminated 
by  erecting  the  wall  with  Cinder 
Concrete  Building  Units.  The 
temperature  of  the  wall  is  slow  in  changing,  and  moisture  remains 
suspended  in  the  air  of  the  room  without  reaching  the  “dew  point”, 
which  is  the  point  of  saturation. 

Dampness  is  not  merely  destructive  to  plaster,  it  is  highly  injurious 
to  health.  This  dangerous  condition  is  effectively  prevented  by  con- 
struction with  Cinder  Concrete  Building  Units  and  it  is  therefore 
safe  to  plaster  direct  on  a wall  of  this  material.  Furring  and  lathing 
are  not  necessary. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  only  the  cinder  concrete  part  of  the 
wall  resists  moisture.  For  that  reason  all  units  should  be  laid  without 
continuous  cross  joints,  as  shown  on  page  30.  If  the  wall  is  veneered 
with  brick  or  stone,  the  facing  material 
should  not  at  any  point  be  continue 
through  the  wall. 

Illustrating  a Cinder  Block  partly  submerged  in  water 

The  uattr  in  the  pan  uill  no:  rise  more  than  one  inch  to  tuo  inches  in  the 
unit , even  though  the  block  remains  partly  submerged  for  a month.  Capillary 
attraction  in  Cinder  Concrete  is  extremely  slight. 

If  this  Cinder  Block  in  the  pan  of  water  were  turned  90  degrees , it  would 
represent  a wall , wet  on  the  outside  from  heavy  ram.  This  water  does  not 
come  through  the  wall , because  of  the  limited  capillary  force.  The  action  is 
quite  different  in  sand  concrete  or  common  clay  units. 


Residence,  Baltimore,  Md  A.  C.  Leach , Architect. 
Plaster  applied  direct  to  walls. 


^ CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS 


£ m 3 


ACOUSTIC  design  is  of  great  im- 
X \ portance  in  the  construction 
of  buildings.  It  involves  both  the 
reduction  of  disturbing  reverbera- 
tion in  large  rooms,  and  the  elimi- 
nation of  sound  transmission  from 
one  room  to  another.  In  order  to 
perform  these 
two  acoustic 
functions,  the 
preventing  of  re- 
flection and  trans- 
mission, the  wall 
must  absorb  the 
sound. 

Cinder  Concrete 
Building  Units 
meet  acoustic  re- 
quirements to  are- 
markable  degree. 

In  the  construc- 
tion of  auditori- 


Cosmopolitan  Hotel , Denver  Colo.  Wm.  N.  Bowman  Co  , Architects. 
Gordon  M.  Tamblyn,  Contractor.  350,000  Cinder  Block  and 
Cinder  Tile  used  in  back-up  and  partitions. 


urns,  Cinder  Block:  and  Cinder 
Tile  reduce  the  time  of  sound 
reverberation  within  the  room 
so  that  the  wall  itself  performs 
the  function  of  special  sound 
deadening  materials. 

As  partition  tile  in  apartments, 
hotels,  hospitals, 
schools  or  resi- 
dences, Cinder 
Concrete 
Building  Units 
reduce  the  trans- 
mission of  sound 
to  a minimum 
by  their  built-in 
sound  absorption. 

The  stability  of 
walls  of  Cinder 
Block  and  Cinder 
Tile  together 
with  the  cellular 
structure  of  the 
material  account 


for  these  important  features  of  sound  in- 
sulation. A technical  bulletin  dealing  with 
the  sound  absorption  of  Cinder  Concrete 
Building  Units  has  been  issued  by  the 
National  Building  Units  Corporation  and 
will  be  furnished  upon  request. 


Interior  of  Players'  Theatre, De- 
troit, Mich.  Smith , Hmchman  & 
Grylls,  Architects.  Trutchtel 
Sheehan,  Builder j . Walls  of 
Cinder  Block  and  Tile  laid  in 
r mdom  design  and  covered  utth 
one  brush  coat  of  paint  to  secure 
a t tract  it  e interior  and  tmprened 
acoustics. 

Detail  shou  inf,  roufh  surface 
texture  uhtch  fives  hitb  defree 
of  sound  absorption. 


CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS 


NAILING  AND  CUTTING 


NAILS  can  easily  be  driven  into  Cinder  Concrete  Building 
Units.  The  nails  will  hold  firmly  and  will  never  rust.  Actual 
tests  have  shown  the  holding  power  to  be  equal  to  that  of 
yellow  pine,  and  that  this  holding  power  increases  with  age 


All  nailing  strips  and  plugs  are 
eliminated.  Grounds,  base  boards 
and  trim  may  be  fastened  direct  to 
the  wall.  The  contractor  will 
readily  appreciate  the  saving  due 
to  this  feature. 


The  wood  plugs  generally  used 
with  clay  brick,  clay  tile  or  sand 
concrete  will  dry  out,  shrink  and 
loosen.  The  initial  cost  is  high 
and  the  lasting  quality  is  doubtful.  The  direct  nailing  to 
a wall  of  Cinder  Block  or  Cinder  Tile  is  far  more  satisfactory. 


No  difficulty  is  experienced  in  cutting  or  channeling  the  material,  due 
to  the  cellular  structure  of  the  cinder  concrete.  Breakage  is  eliminated. 

To  further  facilitate  construction.  Cinder  Concrete  Building  Units 
are  supplied  in  halves,  quarters  and  other  fractions  so  that  cutting  is 
reduced  to  a minimum. 


PITTSBURGH  TESTING  LABORATORY 

Pittsburgh,  Pa.  January  12,  1922 
Laboratory  No.  48544 

REPORT  OF  TEST  ON  HOLDING  STRENGTH  OF  WIRE  NAILS 


In  order  to  obtain  the  holding  power  of  wire  nails  in  Straub  cinder  building  blocks  as  com- 
pared with  wood,  samples  were  placed  in  a Universal  testing  machine  and  the  loads  required  to 
draw  the  nails  determined. 


RESULTS  OF  TEST 

Size  of  Material 

Nail  Used 

20  d— 2 x 4 Yellow  Pine  ...  

16  d — 2x4  “ “ 

20  d— Cinder  Concrete  Block 

20  d—  “ “ “ 

20  d-  “ “ “ 

16  d — " “ “ 

*20  d— Old  Nail  in  Cinder  Concrete  Block  5 years  


Load  in  Lbs. 

Depth  of  Nail 

Required  to 

in  Material 

Draw  Nails 

l'/z 

260 

l Vi 

270 

l'/z 

300 

l'/z 

250 

l'/z 

200 

l'/z 

200 

l'/z 

650 

Note:  *This  specimen  was  a nail  which  had  been  driven  into  a cinder  block  used  in  the  walls 
of  a bottling  plant  at  New  Kensington,  Pa.  When  the  building  was  partly  destroyed  by  fire,  this 
specimen  was  selected  to  determine  the  effects  of  age  on  the  holding  power  of  the  nail.  The  nail 
had  not  rusted  in  the  cinder  concrete,  although  it  had  rusted  where  not  embedded. 

PITTSBURGH  TESTING  LABORATORY, 

P.  J.  Freeman,  Engineer  of  Tests 


^ ^ CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS  — ^ 


l 16  ] 


PLASTERING  SURFACE 


THE  surface  texture  of  Cinder  Block  and  Cinder  Tile  affords  an 
ideal  base  for  plaster  and  stucco.  These  materials  are  applied  direct 
to  the  wall  and  dovetail  into  the  small  irregularities  of  the  surface, 
giving  a very  strong  key. 

The  bricklayer  has  no  difficulty  in  making  a true  wall  with  these 
units,  and  only  a very  thin  straightening  coat  of  plaster  is  required. 
The  firm  adhesion  eliminates  waste  of  plaster  during  application. 

Cinder  Concrete 
Building  Units 
have  an  even  absorp- 
tion — quick  but 
limited  — which  en- 
ables the  plasterer  to 
work  much  faster 
than  is  possible  on 
any  other  base . . . Each 
square  foot  of  plaster 

. , , Outside  walls  of  Cinder  Block,  laid  in  broken  ashlar  design  and  painted. 

sets  up  with  the  same 

speed  and  the  whole  surface  is  uniform  for  rodding  and  floating. 

These  characteristics,  the  trueness  of  the  wall,  the  evenness  of  the 
suction  and  the  splendid  key  afforded  by  Cinder  Block  and  Cinder 
Tile,  effect  a decided  economy  in  plastering.  To  these  advantages 
should  be  added  the  nailing  feature,  which  simplifies  the  placing  of 
grounds  and  the  fastening  of  interior  trim. 

The  rough  surEice,  combined  with 
the  trueness  of  the  Cinder  Block 
or  Cinder  Tile  unit,  makes  possible 
the  application  of  paint  in  a variety 
of  attractive  effects.  To  enhance  the 
pleasing  quaintness  of  a white- washed 
surface,  the  units  may  be  laid  in 
broken  ashlar  or  random  design. 


^ CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS  ^ ^ 

[ 17  ] 


ECONOMY  of  CONSTRUCTION 


THE  characteristics  of  Cinder  Concrete  Building  Units,  as  de- 
scribed on  the  foregoing  pages,  effect  decided  economies  in  con- 
struction which  may  be  summarized  as  follows: 

Laying : 

In  comparison  with  sand  concrete  blocks  or  common  brick,  the  lighter  weight  of  Cinder 
Concrete  Building  Units  makes  possible  a substantial  saving  in  masonry  labor.  The  weight 
is  the  same,  or  less,  than  ordinary  clay  tile,  but  the  wider  mortar  bed  and  the  trueness  of  the 
units  are  in  favor  of  Cinder  Block  and  Cinder  Tile.  There  is  no  difficulty  in  keeping  the 
wall  plumb  during  erection. 

Mortar : 

One  8 x 8 x 16"  Cinder  Block  takes  the  place  of  twelve  brick  in  the  wall — with  a subse- 
quent saving  in  the  amount  of  mortar  used.  Cinder  Block  and  Cinder  Tile  require  less 
mortar  than  clay  tile  because  the  wider  webs  reduce  the  loss  of  mortar. 


Reducing  Dead  Load: 

The  lightness  of  the  product  reduces  the  dead  weight  of  the  wall — and  Cinder  Block  and 
Cinder  Tile  are  particularly  well  adapted  to  skyscraper  construction  where  weight  becomes 
a deciding  factor.  A saving  in  load-bearing  members  of  skeleton  construction  is  possible  with 
this  material. 


Elimination  of  Lath: 

All  plaster  is  applied  direct  to  a wall  of  Cinder  Concrete  Building  Units.  There  is  no 
danger  of  dampness  or  discoloration  when  the  wall  is  properly  constructed.  Furring  and 
lathing  can  be  omitted  with  a very  substantial  saving. 

Economy  of  Plaster : 

A wall  of  Cinder  Block  or  Cinder  Tile  presents  an  even  surface  requiring  only  a thin 
scratch  coat  of  plaster  under  the  finishing  coat.  Waste  is  eliminated,  and  the  rough  surface 
of  the  wall  makes  an  ideal  bond  for  the  plastic  material. 

Plastering  Labor : 

The  quick  but  limited  suction  and  the  even  absorption  of  Cinder  Concrete  Building 
Units  make  it  possible  for  the  plasterer  to  work  with  greater  speed.  The  saving  in  time  is  an 
important  economy. 

Breakage : 

The  toughness  of  Cinder  Concrete  Building  Units  reduces  breakage  to  a minimum  and 
the  fractional  sizes  reduce  cutting. 

failing : 

All  grounds  and  trim  are  nailed  direct  to  the  wall  of  Cinder  Block  or  Cinder  Tile. 
Nailing  plugs  are  eliminated  at  a substantial  saving  in  labor,  and  the  direct  nailing  is  far  more 
satisfactory. 

The  human  element  that  enters  into  building  makes  it  difficult  to  express  economy  of  con- 
struction in  terms  of  dollars  and  cents,  but  the  architect  or  builder  who  has  once  used  Cinder 
Block  and  Cinder  Tile  will  recognize  their  economy  advantages  in  actual  construction. 


^ CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS  ^ ^ 

I 18  ] 


MAKING  THE  PRODUCT 


THE  quality  of  such  products  as  Cinder  Block  or  Cinder  Tile 
depends  greatly  upon  correct  methods  of  manufacture.  A vital 
contribution  of  the  inventors,  Straub  and  Bo,  was  their  early  recognition 
of  the  quality  factors  that  govern  the  making  of  Cinder  Concrete 

Building  Units.  Cinder  Block  Plants  operating  under  the  Straub 

and  Bo  Patents  are  equipped  to  treat  the  raw 
material  in  such  a manner  as  to  assure  a stand- 
ardized product.  The  careful  crushing  processes 
produce  an  aggregate  which  is  structurally 
sound  and  durable.  Thorough  mixing  and 
specially  developed  methods  of  manufacture 
insure  a product  of  uniform  quality. 

The  Cinder  Concrete  produced  by  these  plants 
is  protected  by  the  proper  conditions  of  temper- 
ature and  moisture  during  its  early  life  and  is 
thoroughly  seasoned  before  delivery  to  the  job. 
Quantity  production  and  the  maintenance  of  an  adequate  reserve 
stock  are  necessary  to  insure  the  delivery  of  properly  matured  units. 


Autornatic  machine  of  special  design  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  Cinder  Concrete  Building  Units. 


Close  co-operation  is  maintained  between  all  plants  operating  under 
Straub  and  Bo  Patents  and  the  Engineering  Department  of  the  National 
Building  Units  Corporation.  The  architect  and  builder  are  assured  of 
uniform  products  and  the  responsible  co-operation  of  a national  industry 
when  dealing  with  any  of  these 


licensed  and  subsidiary  plants. 


CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS 


IR.ST  CHURCH  of  CHRIST,  SCIENTIST,  Dayton , 
Ohio.  Gebhardt  and  Shaeffer , Architects.  Wm. 
Macllroy,  Builder.  Floors , back-up  and  partitions 
of  Ctnder  Block  and  Cinder  Tile. 


aJSRITH  SHOLAM  COMMUNITY  CENTER.  Beth 
lehem,  Pa.  Architect,  David  Levy.  Contractor, 
H E.  Stoudt  & Son.  Cinder  Block  partitions 
and  hacking. 


•JjETAIL  of  EAGLES’  CLUB  HOUSE,  Milwaukee, 
W is. , showing  Cinder  Tile  Partitions.  Note 
curved  wall  of  Cinder  Block  at  stair  landing. 


<?ACRED  HEART  CHURCH,  Pittsburgh , Pa 
Cfx  Carlton  Strong,  Architect.  Duquesne  Construc- 
tion Co.,  Builders.  Cinder  Block  in  exterior  walls 
as  backing  for  stone. 


I 20  ] 


L 


^ lT RARAT  SHRINE  TEMPLE.  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Ouen , Saylor  and  Pay-son,  Architects.  Fogel 
Construction  Company,  Builders.  Stone  veneer 
backed  with  Cinder  Block.  AH  steel  fire-proofed 
with  Cinder  Block  and  Cinder  Tile.  Cinder  Tile 
partitions  throughout . 


Ararat  SHRINE  TEMPLE.  Proscenium  wall 
built  of  Cinder  Block.  Truss  over  stage  open- 
ing fire-proofed  with  3"  Cinder  Tile  resting  on  con- 
crete shoe  cast  around  tower  flange. 


A RARAT  SHRINE  TEMPLE.  Auditorium  seat- 
ing 2,830.  Remarkable  acoustics  due  to  Cinder 
Tile  partitions  and  exposed  Cinder  Block  in  all 
stage  walls. 


/T  RARAT  SHRINE  TEMPLE.  Stage  walls  show- 
ing Cinder  Block  left  exposed  in  order  to  get  a 
high  degree  of  sound-absorption.  Back  stage  walls 
85  ft.  high  x76  ft.  long.  Lower  40  ft.  of  12"  Cinder 
Block  and  4"  brick;  Upper  45  ft.  of  8"  Cinder  Block 
and  4"  brick;  20"  pilasters  set  14%  ft.  apart. 


i 21  } 


s 


?OUTH  WEST  HIGH  SCHOOL,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Cbas.  A.  Smith,  Architect,  Cinder  Block  in  back- 
ing and  Cinder  Tile  in  all  partitions. 


•TUDOR  HALL  APARTMENTS,  Englewood,  N.J. 
* Architects,  Springsteen  & Goldhammer.  Cinder 
Block  in  load  bearing  walls  as  backing  for  brick, 
stone  and  stucco.  Half-timbering  nailed  dvect  to 
the  block. 


6 


0NT1NENTAL  OIL  COMPANY  BUILDING. 
Denver,  Colo.,  Wm.  N.  Bowman  Co.,  Architects. 
Gordon  M.  Tamblyr.,  Builder.  Cinder  Tile  parti- 
tions throughout. 


,y^PARTMENT  HOUSE.Toronto,  Canada.  Cratgand 
Maditl,  Architects.  Cinder  Block  in  all  walls  as 
backing  for  face  brick. 


E 22  1 


ESIDENCE , Reading,  Pa.  Scholl  and  Richardson , 
Architects.  Outside  walls  of  stone,  hacked  up 
with  4" , 8"  and  12"  Cinder  Block.  All  partitions 
of  Cinder  Tile. 


q^ESI 


'ESIDENCE,  Kansas  City,  Mo.  Edw.  W. 

, Tanner,  Architect.  Face  brick  backed 
with  Cinder  Block. 


i 2}  ] 


REPRESENTATIVE  UNIT 


3"  Cinder  Tile 

Nominal  size 3 x 8 x 16" 

Nominal  size 3 x 9 x 16" 

Nominal  size 3 x 12  x 12" 

Weight  per  sq.  ft 14-15  lbs. 

The  tile  is  made  with  a solid  top  to  facilitate  spreading  of 
mortar. 


4"  Cinder  Tile 

Nominal  size 

Actual  size 

Weight 

Also  made  solid,  or  hollow  with  solid  top. 


4x8x16" 

4 x 73<  x 1 53 1 " 
. . . 15-17  lbs. 


6”  Cinder  Tile 

Nominal  size.  . 
Actual  size.  . . . 
Weight 


6 x 8 x 16" 

6 x 7U  x 15H" 
24-26  lbs. 


Cinder  Block 

Nominal  size.  . . 

Actual  size 

Weight 


8 x 8 x 16" 

8 x 734  x 15V" 
32-34  lbs. 


2211  Cinder  Block 

Nominal  size 12  x 8 x 16" 

Actual  size 12  x 7-U  x 1534  " 

Weight 50-  54  lbs. 

Made  with  webs  to  support  8"  super-structure.  Also  made 
solid  for  heavy  load-bearing  walls. 


Header  Block 

Dimensions  as  shown  on  the  drawing.  For  bonding  brick 
veneer  with  headers  every  sixth  course. 

Brick  veneer  may  also  be  bonded  every  seventh  course  by 
using  regular  cinder  block  and  cinder  brick. 


^ **  CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS  ^ 


I 24  } 


REPRESENTATIVE  UNITS 


Jamb  or  Joist  Block 

Dimensions  as  shown  on  drawing. 

Weight 34-35  lbs. 

Use  as  jamb  block  illustrated  on  page  34. 

Use  as  joist  block  illustrated  on  page  33. 


Steel  Sash  Block 

Dimensions  as  regular  block. 


Weight,  8 x 8 x 16" 32-34  lbs. 

12  x 8 x 16" 50-54  lbs. 


Solid  Block 

8"  and  12"  blocks  made  solid  for  heavy  load-bearing  walls. 
Weight,  8 x 8 x 16"  solid — 42-45  lbs. 

12x8x16"  65-70  lbs. 

Actual  size  same  as  hollow  blocks. 


Brick 

Actual  size 
Weight  . . . 


2>4  x3h7  x 8" 
3-4  lbs. 


Chimney  Block 

Regular  size  shown  on  drawing. 

Also  made  with  Stove  Pipe  Hole. 
Chimney  caps  made  to  fit  these  units. 


Lintels 

All  sizes  carried  in  stock  or  made  to  order.  Width,  height 
and  additional  reinforcement  in  proportion  to  length. 


Note  — 6",  8"  and  12"  Cinder  Blocks  are  also  manufactured  with  3 cores  instead  of  2. 


They  present  identical  advantages. 


^ ^ CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS  — ^ 

S ] 


Showing  the  proper  method  of  spreading  mortar  when  laying  Cinder  Blocks.  Care  should  he  used  to  prevent  mortar  joints  from  running  through 
from  one  face  to  the  other , particularly  when  laying  outside  walls.  The  mason  should  spread  mortar  on  the  course  in  one  operation , instead  of 
laying  one  block  at  a rime. 


Showing  the  proper  method  of  buttering  ends.  The  blocks  should  be  set  on  end  in  a row  within  easy  reach  of  the  mason.  The  ends  should  be 
buttered  on  the  outside  and  inside  only , avoiding  all  cross  joints.  The  incorrect  method  of  piling  block  is  indicated  at  the  far  end  of  the  platform. 


i 26  1 


Illustrating  the  use  of  8"  regular  wall  block  ami  8"  header  block  in 
backing  up  4"  of  brick,  making  a 11"  wall.  Note  that  no  through 
mortar  joints  occur  between  the  outside  and  inside  faces  of  the  wall. 
This  insures  a dry  wall. 


Illustrating  the  use  of  4"  and  8"  Cinder  Block  for  backing  up  stone 
facing.  Any  thickness  of  wall  may  be  obtained  by  using  standard 
units.  The  stone  should  not  at  any  point  be  continuous  through 
the  wall. 


Unique  effect  obtained  by  use  of  Standard  Cinder  Block  and  Cinder 
Tile,  laid  with  mortar  joints  pointed  as  in  stone  masonry.  Some 
of  the  joints  cut  over  the  face  of  the  units. 


17 


Detail  of  Players’  Theatre,  Detroit,  Michigan,  illustrated  on 
page  15.  Standard  Cinder  Block  and  Cinder  Tile  laid  in  "broken 
Ashlar"  design  ready  for  application  of  paint. 


SPECIFICATION 


SPECIFICATIONS  FOR  CONSTRUCTION 

with 

STRAUB  or  BO  CINDER  BUILDING  UNITS 


Straub  or  ‘Bo  Cinder  Building  Units: 

The  requirements  as  set  forth  under  the  head  of 
General  Conditions  apply  to  this  work. 

All  Straub  or  Bo  Cinder  Building  Units  shall  be 
straight,  uniform,  and  sound,  and  of  such  character 
that  they  will  pass  and  comply  with  the  requirements 
of  the  local  building  code.  Besides  the  regular  blocks, 
use  such  special  shapes  and  sizes  as  may  be  required 
to  accomplish  the  provisions  of  the  drawings  and  the 
aims  of  the  architect. 

iMortar : 

All  mortar  used  for  the  setting  of  Straub  or  Bo 
Cinder  Building  Units  shall  be  composed  bv  volume 
of  one  part  of  Portland  Cement  (approved  brand),  to 
one  part  hydrated  lime  and  six  parts  of  clean  sharp 
sand  thoroughly  mixed  to  a smooth  moderately  stiff 
mortar.  The  lime  and  cement  shall  be  thoroughly 
mixed  before  the  addition  of  sand  and  water.  The 
resulting  mortar  mixture  shall  be  used  within  thirty 
minutes  after  the  water  is  added  and  no  retempering 
shall  be  permitted.  If  lime  putty  is  used  instead  of 
hvdrated  lime,  mix  cement  and  sand  first  and  then 
add  the  lime  putty  which  must  be  slacked  at  least 
three  days  before  using. 

Laying : 

All  hollow  blocks  shall  be  laid  with  the  cells 
vertical  in  the  wall  and  in  such  manner  that  the  main 
bearing  webs  come  in  proper  relation  for  bearing  with 
those  of  the  block  below.  No  vertical  or  horizontal 
joints  shall  be  mortared  through  the  walls  but  liberal 
air  spaces  shall  be  left  in  the  center  of  the  walls  by 
buttering  the  two  edges  of  each  block  on  both  hori- 
zontal and  vertical  joints.  When  12"  blocks  are  used 
place  mortar  over  front,  center  and  rear  webs,  exer- 
cising care  that  the  mortar  does  not  carry  through  the 
wall.  All  walls  shall  be  bonded  by  breaking  vertical 
joints  in  every  course  at  least  three  inches. 


Foundation  W alls : 

Where  indicated  on  drawings  the  foundation  walls 
and  piers  shall  be  constructed  of  Straub  or  Bo  Cinder 
Building  Units  of  such  size  and  shape  as  may  be 
required  and  in  conformity  with  the  local  building 
code.  Special  units  shall  be  used  for  corners,  offsets, 
and  other  breaks  to  maintain  a good  bond  and  to  insure 
properly  staggered  joints  throughout  the  length  of 
the  wall. 

(In  low,  damp  ground,  water  bearing  clay  or  where 
springs  or  excessive  ground  water  occurs,  the  outside 
of  foundation  walls  shall  be  plastered  with  a mortar 
composed  of  one  part  Portland  Cement  to  two  parts 
of  sand  with  a mixture  of  an  approved  damp-proofing 
composition  and  to  be  applied  three-quarters  of  an 
inch  in  thickness.  Also,  where  any  quantity  of  ground 
water  is  present  or  known  to  occur,  a dry  drain  should 
be  laid  around  the  foundation  to  carry  the  water  away 
to  a convenient  point.  Specified  under  this  heading  or 
under  the  plumbing  and  drainage  work.) 

Exterior  Walls  and  Interior  Bearing  Walls: 

All  exterior  walls  above  foundation  and  all  interior 
bearing  walls  shall  be  constructed  of  the  various  thick- 
nesses as  indicated  on  drawings,  forming  all  corners, 
returns  and  offsets  as  shown,  and  using  the  required 
shapes  and  sizes  to  work  to  corners  and  openings  and 
to  maintain  proper  bond  throughout  the  length  of 
the  wall. 

Use  special  jamb  blocks  for  double-hung  window 
frames. 

Use  re-inforced  Straub  or  Bo  Cinder  Concrete 
Lintels  over  all  door  openings  or  use  lintels  of  special 
design  as  indicated. 

Where  arches  occur  in  walls  they  shall  be  formed 
of  two  (or  more)  courses  of  cinder  brick  laid  in  row- 
lock  fashion  on  suitable  centers. 


— — CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS  ^ 


1 28 1 


SPECIFICATIONS 


‘•Bearing  Wall  Design  : 

The  design  and  size  of  hollow  Straub  or  Bo  Cinder 
Building  Units  in  hearing  walls  shall  be  such  that 
the  gross  sectional  area  of  the  block  is  not  stressed 
greater  than  one-tenth  of  the  crushing  strength  of  the 
particular  units  used,  as  ascertained  by  properly 
conducted  test.  The  super-imposed  loadings  shall 
include  the  dead  and  live  loads  of  floors  and  roof  and 
the  weight  of  wall  construction,  etc.,  and  in  no  case 
shall  the  block  be  subjected  to  tensile  stress,  unless 
suitable  steel  reinforcement  is  provided.  Where  heavy 
beams  or  girders  are  placed  on  hollow  block  walls, 
or  where  other  concentrated  loads  occur,  the  holes 
shall  be  filled  with  concrete  or  the  walls  shall  be 
capped  with  concrete  or  otherwise  re-inforced  to 
properly  distribute  the  load.  The  interior  bearing 
walls  shall  be  well  bonded  and  tied  into  outside 
walls.  Fire-places  and  chimneys  shall  be  built  as 
shown  and  shall  be  well  bonded  into  the  walls  in 
which  they  occur. 

Partition  Walls: 

All  partition  and  division  walls  other  than  load 
bearing  shall  be  constructed  of  light  weight  hollow 
Straub  or  Bo  Cinder  Building  Units  of  the  thick- 
ness indicated  on  the  drawings.  They  must  be  built 
true  to  a line  and  plumb  and  must  be  well  tied  into 
other  walls  and  be  wedged  against  floor  above.  Re- 
inforced lintels  are  to  be  used  over  all  openings. 

Lintels : 

Straub  or  Bo  Cinder  Concrete  Lintels  shall  be 
built  into  the  walls  over  the  openings  as  indicated 
on  the  drawings  and  all  lintels  shall  have  a modulus 
of  rupture  of  not  less  than  800  pounds  per  square  inch. 

cPorch  Columns  and  Piers : 

Porch  columns  and  piers  shall  be  erected  with  blocks 
of  such  sizes  as  to  conform  with  the  dimensions  indi- 
cated on  the  drawings. 

Where  heavy  loads  are  to  be  carried  on  columns  and 
piers  they  shall  be  built  of  solid  Straub  or  Bo  Units 
instead  of  hollow  ones. 


Chimney : 

All  chimneys  and  fire-places  shall  be  constructed  of 
Straub  or  Bo  Cinder  Building  Units  as  shown  on 
the  drawings,  faced  with  suitable  fire  brick  where 
exposed  to  heat. 

Provide  terra  cotta  flue  linings  of  sizes  indicated  for 
all  chimneys,  wiping  all  joints  carefully  as  the  several 
sections  are  erected. 

Chimney  Cap  : 

Provide  Straub  or  Bo  Cinder  Chimney  Cap,  pre- 
cast concrete,  stone  or  brick  as  indicated  on  the 
drawings. 

Cutting  and  Patching : 

This  contractor  shall  do  all  cutting  and  patching  of 
his  work,  and  that  of  other  contractors,  required  for 
the  proper  installation  of  work  by  other  trades,  and 
any  necessary  cutting  and  repairing  is  to  be  reported 
to  the  architect  for  adjustment  with  the  contractor 
for  whom  such  work  is  done.  This  contractor  shall 
leave  all  chases  and  openings  required  by  other  trades 
and  build  in  all  anchors,  or  other  accessories  furnished 
by  others.  All  chases  and  openings  that  are  built  or 
cut  into  walls  shall,  when  ready  for  plastering,  be 
covered  with  No.  gauge  galvanized  diamond 

mesh  expanded  metal  lath  or  woven  wire  lath  by 
plastering  contractor.  Lath  to  be  securely  fastened 
into  place  lapping  the  face  of  the  block  by  at  least  2" 
on  each  side  to  prevent  cracking  of  plaster.  Upon 
completion,  do  any  patching  required  and  remove  all 
rubbish,  equipment  and  surplus  material. 

Contractors  for  plumbing,  heating  and  electric  work, 
and  other  trades  will  not  be  permitted  to  cut  in- 
to block  walls  without  permission  from  the  block 
masonry  contractor  and  generally  any  cutting  and 
repairing  shall  be  done  by  the  block  mason  and  the 
cost  charged  to  the  contractor  requiring  same. 
Contractors  for  other  trades  must  therefore  arrange 
the  installation  of  their  work  so  that  openings  and 
chases  may  be  built  in  where  required,  or  furnish  to, 
and  co-operate  with,  the  mason  contractor  in  setting 
the  sockets,  ferrules,  pipings,  conduits,  outlet  boxes 
and  fastenings  that  must  be  built  into  the  Hollow 
Block  walls.  Horizontal  chases  will  not  be  per- 
mitted in  block  walls,  except  for  flexible  conduits  for 
electric  wiring. 


CINDER  CONCRETE  BUILDING  UNITS  — ^ 

f 10  ] 


[ 3°  1 


i 31  1 


11  33  1 


PE/NTO/eCED  CiHdEH 
CoHcecrt  lintel 


STUCCO  COVEZIH& 


ELEVATION 


(iz-  wall) 


-Plan  Show  no  special  jams  slocks 


a'  wall) 


i lti|  i!U  i K 

Section  or  head 
Shonino  special  lintel 


Section  or  Sill 


i 34  J 


NATIONAL  DISTRIBUTION 


Plants  Manufacturing  Cinder  Concrete  Building  Units  Under  Straub  or  Bo  Patents 


Albany,  N.  Y Finch  & Ostrander,  Inc. 

Allentown,  Pa Hollywood  Building  Block  Co. 

Altoona,  Pa..  Juniata  Reconstructed  Stone  Co.,  Juniata,  Pa. 

Apollo,  Pa Apollo  Steel  Co. 

Atlanta,  Ga Atlanta  Cinder  Block  & Tile  Co. 

Baltimore,  Md.. Cinder  Block  Corp. 

Binghamton,  N Y Straub  Building  Units,  Inc. 

Braeburn,  Pa ...  Braeburn  Volcano  Block  Co. 

Buffalo,  N Y Burnett -Wilson-Pfohl,  Inc. 

Butler,  Pa Shutflin  & Green 

Camden,  N.  J Concrete  Specialties  Co. 

Cincinnati,  Ohio . .Cincinnati  Cincrete  Corp. 

Clarksburg,  W.  Va Cincrete,  Inc. 

Denver,  Colo Cinder  Block  Co. 

Dbs  Moines,  Iowa Iowa  Concrete  Crib  & Cement  Products  Co. 

Detroit,  Mich Detroit  Cinder  Block  & Tile  Co. 

Detroit,  Mich R.  E.  Hamilton's  Sons 

East  St.  Louis,  III Atlas  Cinder  Block  Corp. 

Elmira,  N.  Y . .Elmira  Building  Units,  Inc. 

Erie,  Pa Erie  Patent  Block  Co.,  Inc. 

Escanaba,  Mich  Universal  Magnesite  Products  Co. 

Fairmont,  W.  Va Fairmont  Wall  Plaster  Co. 

(Sub  licensees  and  distributors  in  West  Virginia) 

Flint,  Mich Flint  Cinder  Block  & Products  Co. 

Forest  Park,  III .Illinois  Cincrete  Products  Corp. 

Geneva,  N.  Y Geneva  Brick  Products  Co. 

Greensburg,  Pa Building  Materials  Co. 

Hamilton,  Ont.,  Canada E.  J.  Shepard,  Ltd. 

Harrisburg,  Pa . Harrisburg  Building  Block  Co. 

Indianapolis,  Ind Straub  Cinder  Block  Co. 

Jamestown,  N.  Y . Jamestowm  Block  & Tile  Co. 

Jersey  City,  N.  J Cinder  Brick  and  Tile  Co. 

Johnstown,  Pa Art  Stone  Block  Co. 

Kansas  City,  Mo Cinder  Block  Co. 

Lancaster,  Pa Lancaster  Concrete  Tile  Co. 

Lansing,  Mich Universal  Block  Co. 

Lemoyne,  Pa Pennsylvania  Concrete  Roofing  Tile  Co. 

Lewistown,  Pa James  L.  Shreftler 

McHenry,  III Frett  Brothers 

Manorville,  Pa Eddy  Brothers 

Midland,  Mich John  A.  Whitman 

Milwaukee,  Wis Cincrete  Products  Corp. 


Moline,  III 

Mt.  Pocono,  Pa 

New  Castle,  Pa 

New  Kensington,  Pa..  . 

New  York,  N.  Y 

Norfolk,  Va 

North  Bergen,  N.  J.. . . 

Omaha,  Neb 

Philadelphia,  Pa 

Pittsburgh,  Pa 

Pottsville.  Pa 

Pueblo,  Colo 

Reading,  Pa 

Ridgefield  Park,  N.  J.. 

Richmond,  Va 

River  Grove,  III 

Rochester,  N.  Y 

Rochester,  N.  Y 

Rochester,  N Y 

St.  Joseph,  Mo 

St.  Louis,  Mo 

Seattle,  Wash 

Selinsgrove,  Pa 

Springdale,  Pa 

Springfield,  Mass 

Springfield,  Ohio 

Syracuse,  N.  Y 

Tarentum,  Pa 

Toronto,  Ont.,  Canada 

Trenton,  N.  J 

Uniontown,  Pa 

Warren,  Ohio 

Warren,  Pa 

Washington,  D.  C 

Waynesburg,  Pa 

Westfield,  N.  J 

Wilkes-Barre,  Pa 

Williamsport,  Pa 

Wilmington,  Del 

York,  Pa 

Youngstown,  Ohio. 
Youngstown,  Ohio 


Moline  Cast  Stone  Co. 

L.  T.  Smith 

Straub  Block  Co. 

Straub  Block  Co. 

Cinder  Tile  Co. 

Norfolk  Building  Block  Corp. 

Hudson  Fireproof  Block  Co. 

Ideal  Cement  Stone  Co. 

. . Phila.  Partition  & Building  Block  Co. 

Straub  Block  Co. 

Pottsville  Building  Block  Co. 

Pueblo  Cinder  & Cement  Products  Co. 

Berks  Building  Block  Co. 

Bergen  Building  Block  Co. 

Richmond  Patent  Building  Block  Corp. 

Chicago  Granite  Co. 

Rochester  Cinder  Block  Corp. 

Genesee  Brick  & Supply  Corp. 

Schaefer  Bros.  Builders  Supply  Co. 

Cinder  Block  Co. 

Cinder  Block  Co.,  Clayton,  Mo. 

Concrete  Structural  Units  Co. 

Cincrete  Products  Co. 

Brown  Building  Block  Co. 

Springfield  Sand  & Tile  Co. 

.Springfield  Cinder  Block  Co. 

Syracuse  Cinder  Products  Corp. 

Frank  H.  Thompson 

Toronto  Brick  Co.,  Ltd. 

Concrete  Speoialties  Company 

Hankins-Paulson  Co. 

Straub  Patented  Block  Co. 

Wilson-Wetmore  Lumber  Co. 

Washington  Concrete  Products  Corp. 

J.  E.  Drury 

Hudson  Fireproof  Block  Co. 

Ncpcnna  Building  Materials  Co.  (Kingston,  Pa.) 

Delvan  Block  Co.,  So.  Williamsport,  Pa. 

Cinder  Block  Corp. 

York  Patented  Building  Block  Co. 

Peter  KJug 

Garland  Block  & Sand  Co. 


GENESEE  BRICK  & SUPPLY  CORPORATION 


THE  foregoing  pages  furnish  comprehensive  data  on  the 
characteristics  of  Cinder  Block  and  Cinder  Tile,  and  on 
their  use  in  modern  construction. 

Local  manufacture  and  distribution  of  these  products  are  care- 
fully conducted  by  this  company.  A large  stock  of  units,  of 
every  size  and  for  every  building  purpose,  is  constantly  main- 
tained to  insure  the  delivery  of  well-cured  products.  The  same 
standard  of  insulation  and  rugged  strength  characterizes  the 
entire  range  of  units. 

Immediate  deliveries  are  also  furthered  by  ample  trucking  facili- 
ties. Drivers  are  courteous  and  dependable.  Directness  of  contact 
between  plant  and  operation  facilitates  co-operation. 

The  service  behind  these  products  goes  back  to  the  raw  materials 
themselves,  involves  the  maintaining  of  ample  reserves  to  insure 
continuous  operation,  scientific  control  and  definite  standards  of 
manufacture  and  quantity  production.  All  of  these  factors  com- 
bine in  placing  the  standardized  Cinder  Concrete  Building 
Unit  at  the  disposal  of  the  Building  Trade. 

The  experience  of  a National  Industry  is  behind  the  manufac- 
turing methods  employed  by  this  plant.  These  standard  products 
are  being  specified  and  used  daily  by  Architects  and  Builders 
throughout  the  country. 


GENESEE  BRICK  8c  SUPPLY  CORPORATION 

Bo  Process  Cinder  Brick  and  Blocks 
832  ST.  PAUL  STREET  ROCHESTER,  N.  Y. 


Copyright  1927 

National  Building  Units  Corporation 


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